Eight Amerindian Adages (A Nonsense Rhyme)

 
"When his arrow's too narrow," Apaches observe, 

"who's the brave who'll behave with the requisite nerve?"


"When our clans hatch no plans," the Comanches declare,

"each chief’s daughter courts slaughter -- and death without hair."*

 
Notwithstanding Elk’s* efforts with soothsayer's sticks,

ev'ry finely fletch’d feather wet weather predicts.

     * Not the more famous Black Elk but his fellow Oglala called simply Elk. Both men toured with Buffalo Bill's Wild West in 1887.


"Gitche Manitou gives us proportionate rope --

hemp to hang ourselves with," hold the Hopi. (They cope.)


"Building igloos takes ice," elder Inuits drawl;

Jemez* chiefs note, “Al fresco takes nothing at all.” 

    * Pronounced "HEY-mesh." 


"Our kayaks need keels," goes an ancient Kaw fable,

 "like lunch on the lawn needs a one-legged table." 


"March a mile in my moccasins," Mashpees assert,

lest you never know nowt 'bout the nature of hurt."



“Once bitten, twice shy,” pbserve Osage’s sages.

“Who’s bitten three times is a fool for the ages.”